Pubdate: Wed, 05 Mar 2008
Source: Telegraph and Argus (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Newsquest Media Group
Contact:  http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4627
Author: Claire Lomax

DRUGS PLAN WELCOMED

Bradford drug workers have welcomed the publication of a new ten-year 
drugs strategy which details how the Government plans to tackle drugs use.

The plan aims to cut drug related crime and reduce the harm that 
drugs cause to individuals, families and whole communities.

Bradford Safer Communities Partnership, a body which takes a lead on 
driving forward improvements across the district and takes a targeted 
approach to tackling crime, disorder and its causes, contributed to 
the plan after organising a consultation event and feeding the 
results back to the Government.

Bradford grandparents who care for their grandchildren full-time due 
to their child's drugs use also met with Government ministers back in 
2006 to lobby for an increase in their entitlement to financial and 
practical support.

The grandparents spoke to the Telegraph & Argus about their 
frustration about the lack of help and their struggle to cope.

It appears ministers took note as the new strategy will make it 
easier for the older generation to win care orders and receive cash 
handouts to care for their grandchildren.

Liz Barry, joint commissioning manager for substance misuse at 
Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: "We welcome 
the new strategy, in particular the greater focus it places on the 
needs of carers and families, which has also been one of our key 
improvement areas in Bradford over the last year.

"We also welcome increasing emphasis placed on treatment outcomes, 
assisting individuals to move out of treatment and make positive 
progress both personally and within the community.

"One of our strengths of the service we provide in Bradford is 
getting drug users into treatment really quickly, as we recognise 
that it is crucial to give help and support as soon as it is being sought.

"Another is keeping drug users in treatment for at least 12 weeks, as 
this is more likely to lead to a successful outcome in the long term."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom